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Hospitality, Travel, & FoodStable

Dishwasher

Operational-level

Also known as: Breakdown Person, Bus Person, Busser, Dish Machine Operator (DMO)

Hospitality, Travel, & FoodBachelor's Degree

Job Description

As a Dishwasher, you play a key role in keeping kitchens, dishes, utensils, and food preparation equipment sparkling clean and sanitary. You typically work indoors in environmentally controlled settings like restaurants, cafeterias, or hotels, often spending time standing. You'll work closely with team members to maintain high health and safety standards. This job suits individuals who are attentive to detail, good at listening and critical thinking, and who enjoy contributing to a team in a fast-paced environment.
Food ServiceKitchen OperationsSanitation & HygieneFood SafetyHospitalityFood & BeverageOperations ManagementCustomer ServiceNutrition

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

-1%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

68,900

per year (US)

Jobs today

480,400

in 2025 → 475,600 (2035)

Typical entry education

No formal educational credential

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook.

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication
Low
Working in a team
High
Contact with others
High
Freedom to make decisions
Moderate
Time pressure
Moderate
Time spent sitting
Low
Working outdoors
Low
Indoor, climate-controlled
High
Dealing with customers
Low
Level of competition
Low

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Stable Job Market

The outlook for Dishwashers is stable, with a projected employment change of -1.0% through 2035. Despite this slight decline, approximately 68,900 job openings are expected each year, offering many opportunities to enter the field. The median annual wage for this role is about $34,810.

Career ladder

Often before this role

  • Kitchen Helper
  • Food Service Assistant

Where it can lead

  • Prep Cook
  • Line Cook
  • Kitchen Supervisor

Impact of AI on this Job

AI, primarily through advancements in robotics and computer vision, will likely automate repetitive aspects of dishwashing like loading, unloading, and pre-rinsing within the next 5-10 years. This could reduce the overall demand for human dishwashers, shifting the remaining roles to supervision, maintenance, or handling items too complex for machines.